Packing tips for moving house
Getting ready to move house means packing up all your belongings, a task that can seem a little daunting. With a few basic packing techniques and the right packaging supplies, however, you can take a lot of the stress out of the process. This guide covers some common items and how to pack them effectively.
Books
Heavy and bulky, books can be a challenge to pack. To pack books securely, stand them upright wherever possible, just as if you were placing them on a bookshelf. To protect covers or dust jackets, wrap more vulnerable books in packing paper or bubble wrap. Keep books from leaning or bending by filling voids in the box with paper, bubble wrap or another packaging material. Because books are so heavy, it's easy to overfill a box with books, making it unsafe to carry. To keep boxes light, mix books with an upper layer of a lighter material like bedding, clothing, or bubble wrap.
Art and photographs
Framed artwork and photos require some extra protection to keep them safe during your move. Larger pieces may go in specially-designed picture boxes, while smaller ones can go in the same types of boxes used to hold dishes. Wrap each piece securely with bubble wrap and packing tape; a sheet of cardboard over the glass can also help prevent scratching. When packing multiple framed items in a single box, make sure to surround them with packing material to keep them from moving. If they don't rattle around in transit, they'll be much safer.
Dishes and glasses
Fragile and heavy dishes require careful packing. You can stack them vertically as long as you separate them with layers of padding; use bubble wrap, kitchen towels or similar items. As with art, it's important to stop your dishes from rattling or tilting during the move, so choose a box that fits them snugly and fill any voids with packing material. Tape the box securely shut and be careful to label the top so that it's kept upright during the move. Special boxes for moving glasses consist of rows of padded compartments; again, choosing a box that fits your glasses well is the key point. If you have larger glasses to move, try the multi-compartment carriers used to transport wine bottles.
Clothes
Packing clothes in boxes for moving is relatively straightforward, but it can result in a lot of ironing later down the line as clothes pick up wrinkles. To reduce this problem, transport clothes in wardrobe boxes; these tall boxes allow jackets, dresses and other items of clothing to hang freely as though they were in a wardrobe, cutting down on folding. Pack a few days worth of clothes separately in a suitcase as you're putting the rest of your wardrobe into boxes. With these to hand, you'll have something to wear no matter how long unpacking takes.
To learn more about packaging supplies, contact a removals company in your area.